Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.2.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
China’s CO2 growth has turned a corner (via Reuters)
EU ministers urge ETS yes vote (via Recharge)
EPA sends climate rule to White House (via Politico)
New Jersey may rejoin Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (via Bloomberg)
OIL
Saudi Arabia taps new oil areas in plan to preserve capacity (via Reuters)
Moniz: CO2 could enhance US oil production by millions of barrels a day (via Houston Chronicle)
Big lenders wary of following oil money to North Dakota (via Reuters)
Two major lawsuits filed against ExxonMobil for Arkansas tar sands spill (via DeSmog Blog)
RENEWABLES
California advances pioneering shared renewables bill (via Climate Progress)
Is anything stopping a massive build-out of desert solar? (via Scientific American)
Germany to add 6.5GW of renewable energy this year (via Recharge)
Can Europe meet its 2020 offshore wind targets? (via Renewable Energy World)
Rise in wind and solar expected to boost energy storage market (via Renew Grid)
Austin Energy adds 570MW to wind portfolio (via Renew Grid)
Tennessee public schools to generate nearly $1 million with solar (via Renewable Energy World)
CLIMATE
Obama seeks to reassert US role in climate debate (via New York Times)
Ocean acidification threatens billion-dollar oyster business (via Climate Central)
Climate change driving more active El Nino cycles (via Yale e360)
Cities lead: preparing for climate change impacts (via EcoAffect)
The climate context behind the deadly Arizona wildfire (via Climate Central)
NRDC releases online tool to track local effects of climate change (via Inhabitat)
NATURAL GAS
Natural gas exporters to defend pricing as courts reject oil link (via Houston Chronicle)
Natural gas production remains stable despite low price (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
Electric vehicle drive motor revenue will surpass $2.8 billion annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
Airbus and Rolls-Royce to build plane powered by algae (via International Business Times)
Biodiesel production nears record output (via Facts of the Day)
Tesla officially gets behind White House petition to allow direct EV sales (via Autoblog Green)
DOE to award up to $13 million to four advanced biofuels projects (via Green Car Congress)
ENVIRONMENT
As China’s demand for coal soars, so does its water scarcity (via ClimateWire)
Deadly heat wave in the West brings fires and travel delays (via New York Times)
Experts see new normal as a hotter, drier West faces more huge fires (via New York Times)
GREEN BUSINESS
Do green jobs come in any other color? (via Renewable Energy World)
Half of all US retail and hotel projects to be green buildings by 2015 (via CleanTechnica)
New coalition aims to accelerate sustainable purchasing (via Sustainable Industries)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Wireless control systems for smart buildings will reach nearly $295 million in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
8 surprising energy hogs in your home (via Greentech Media)
POLITICS
Obama says ravages of climate change is make-or-break issue (via AP)
Koch pledge tied to Congressional climate inaction (via The New Yorker)
Conservatives seek alternatives to climate denialism, come up short (via Grist)
OPINION
Kevin Rudd needs to seize the moment on climate (via Renew Economy)
How Obama could approve Keystone (via National Journal)
Can Obama’s Africa power plan hold a candle to China? (via Reuters)
Ron Binz will continue FERC’s leadership toward a clean energy future (via Climate Progress)
New Jersey’s new development bill could endanger families, businesses, and first responders (via Climate Progress)